Candy Crush Saga Hits $20 Billion Revenue Milestone, Maker King Says
Updated: Jan 9, 2024
Candy Crush Saga, the popular matching game, has achieved a remarkable milestone by generating $20 billion in revenue since its launch in 2012, according to its maker, King.
The game, which started on a website before transitioning to Facebook and mobile platforms, has been downloaded a staggering 5 billion times.
One of the key factors behind Candy Crush Saga's success is its "freemium" model, where the game is free to play but offers in-app purchases to enhance gameplay or watch ads to gain additional moves. This approach has proven to be highly lucrative, contributing to the game's massive revenue.
Tjodolf Sommestad, President of King, highlighted the enduring appeal of Candy Crush Saga and its ability to remain relevant over the years. He stated, "We've proven to ourselves and to the industry that it is possible to reignite games that are years old and keep them relevant for a decade or longer and break records even a decade in."
The game's constant updates and improvements have played a significant role in maintaining its popularity. Todd Green, Candy Crush's General Manager, mentioned that the game is regularly optimised to provide a more satisfying experience for players. This includes fine-tuning details like the bounce of candies landing on the grid and introducing new levels, with the upcoming release of level 15,000 being a notable milestone.
Candy Crush Saga has consistently been the top-grossing franchise in U.S. app stores for the past six years, underscoring the success of King's strategy. However, Sommestad acknowledged the challenges faced by new game developers, stating that the bar for launching a successful game is now very high.
King, the maker of Candy Crush Saga, has been owned by Activision Blizzard since 2016. In the second quarter of this year, King contributed $747 million in net revenue, accounting for 31% of Activision's total revenue.
Candy Crush Saga has generated $20 billion in revenue since its launch in 2012.
The game pioneered the "freemium" model, offering in-app purchases and ads to boost gameplay.
Candy Crush Saga has been downloaded 5 billion times and remains popular due to constant updates and improvements.
Source: REUTERS